Chapter 14
Nathaniel did not come to the school that night. Nor did he come the next night or the next. By Wednesday Jonathan was frantic. He could barely concentrate on his teaching. He would sit and stare out the window until the students politely called attention to the fact that he had given them nothing to do or study. Jonathan decided he had to act.
On Wednesday, following the close of the day at school, Jonathan, bundling against the first cold wind of autumn, set off for the docks of Newburyport and the cooperage. All during his pilgrimage, his mind restlessly thrashed about from one scenario to another, attempting to explain why Nathaniel had not come to him.
He had said we had until the wedding. Had he changed his mind? He was ill. He no longer cared. No, that was ridiculous.
